WO2011086264A2

WO2011086264A2 - Method and system for tattooing analog or digital content

Info

Publication number: WO2011086264A2
Application number: PCT/FR2010/052770
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philippe Bertrand
Original assignee: Communications Sa
Priority date: 2009-12-22
Filing date: 2010-12-16
Publication date: 2011-07-21
Also published as: WO2011086264A3; FR2954652B1; FR2954652A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for tattooing analog or digital content (102) comprising at least one audio component (112), including the following steps: generating a tattooing signal (120; 120a-120c) from a repetition of a predetermined key signal (122) according to at least one tattooing code (124; 124a-124c), encrypting said tattooing signal (120; 120a-120c) using at least one predetermined encryption code (128), and superimposing said encrypted tattooing signal on said audio component (112) at at least one position within said audio component (112). The invention also relates to a use of such a tattooing process for the remote control of a device receiving the tattooed content. The invention also relates to a system and apparatus implementing such a method.

Description

"Method and system for tattooing analogue or digital content"

The invention relates to a method of tattooing analog or digital content. It also relates to a system implementing such a method.

The field of the invention is the field of tattooing, English waterma rking, an analog or digital content and more particularly an audio or audio visual content. By analog or digital content is meant any content in the form of an analog or digital signal from a Compact Disc (CD), a Digital Video Disc (DVD), an audio or audiovisual signal in broadcast on a telecommunication network in real time or in deferred or projected in cinemas.

The methods and systems for tattooing analogue or digital content are intended to include in the content information relating to the content or a natural or legal person possessing intellectual property rights on the content, such as rights authors or other. Other methods make it possible to attach to the content concerned information relating to persons who have consulted the content, thereby providing traceability of this content.

The tattooing of an analogue or digital work is done by inserting, in the analog or digital signal, a name, often representing a code. The known tattooing methods make it possible to repeat the code several times in the document so as to reinforce the tattooing of the content, such as for example the tattoo disclosed in WO2009064561.

Other tattooing methods perform an encryption of analog or digital after tattooing to protect the contents against illegal copying.

In recent years, techniques have been developed to remove a tattoo from tattooed content. These techniques include an identification of the tattoo code and then an identification of the location of the tattoo in the tattooed content and finally an extraction of the tattoo of the tattooed content.

To cope with this trend, tattooing processes are becoming more complex and use tattoo codes of longer and longer, making it difficult to tattoo analog or digital content of short duration.

Furthermore, the current methods do not allow the owner or the owner of analog or digital content to perform a custom tattoo.

A main object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and a tattooing system that is both simple to implement and safer than current methods and systems.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tattooing method and system for realizing the tattoo of analog or digital content of short duration.

Finally, another object of the invention is to provide a method and tattooing system for performing a more personalized tattoo of an analog or digital content.

The invention thus proposes a method of tattooing an analogue or digital content comprising at least one audio component, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

- constitution of at least one tattoo signal from a repetition of a predetermined key signal according to at least one tattoo code,

encrypting said at least one tattoo signal using at least one predetermined encryption code,

superimposing said at least one encrypted tattoo signal on the audio component in at least one position in said audio component. The method according to the invention advantageously allows a tattoo of an analog or digital content by a tattoo signal consisting of a key signal repeatedly repeated according to a tattoo code. Each user can choose the key signal he wants. Thus, the method according to the invention provides a tattoo more personalized than the methods and systems of the state of the art.

Furthermore, the encryption of the tattoo signal using at least one encryption code before the superposition step makes it possible to perform a more secure encryption of the content to be encrypted because, in this way, the encryption code becomes difficult to detect in tattooed content. The tattoo code can also be chosen by the user, which makes the tattooing process even more customizable.

Furthermore, the encryption of the tattoo signal makes it possible to use a sig nalde tato u ga rte of the r ee of the r ee and i nsi to tato uer an analog or digital content of shorter duration compared to the tattooing processes and systems of the tattooing system. state of the art. It is not necessary to encrypt the entire content. However, if the user so desires, such an encryption of the entire contents can also be achieved in a step that can be combined with the steps of the method according to the invention and will then be part of the method according to the invention.

The method according to the invention therefore makes it possible to securely encrypt analog or digital content while remaining simple to implement.

The encryption used to encrypt the tattoo signal may be of any known type of encryption.

Advantageously, the method according to the invention may comprise a superposition of several tattoo signals at the same superposition location in the audio component of the content.

In a particular embodiment, the method according to the invention may comprise a superposition of four tattoo signals at the same location in the audio component. In a particular embodiment, the method according to the invention may further comprise a step of extracting at least one audio component from the content to be tattooed.

Such an extraction step is carried out when the content to be tattooed comprises several audio components or comprises an audio component associated with another component such as for example a video component or a data or information component.

Furthermore, when the content to be tattooed is in digital format, the method according to the invention may further comprise the following steps:

a digital-to-analog conversion of the content to be tattooed upstream of the superposition step, and

an analog-to-digital conversion of the tattooed content downstream of the superposition step.

Thus, the method according to the invention can be used for tattooing analog or digital content.

The analog or digital nature of the content can:

- be indicated by the user or the operator performing the tattoo, or - be detected automatically, either by electronic means, for example acquisition means indicating the nature of the content to be tattooed, or by a computer module performing an analysis the content of the tattooed content or the nature of the means of acquiring the tattooed content.

Advantageously, the method of the invention may further comprise a power modulation of the tattoo signal as a function of the power of the audio signal at the position in the audio component at which the tattoo signal is superimposed with the audio component.

Such a modulation makes it possible to adapt the tattoo to the content to be tattooed, over all or part of the duration of the tattooing. Such modulation makes it possible to reduce the audio disturbances that can be caused by the superimposing a tattoo signal on an audio component of the tattooed content.

Such modulation also makes the tattoo more difficult to detect by tattoo detection and removal techniques in tattooed content.

According to an advantageous version of the invention, the method according to the invention may further comprise, upstream of the superposition step, a detection, by analysis of the power of the audio component, of at least one position in the audio component to which the tattoo signal will be superimposed.

Such detectio n allows you to realize a customized and personalized tattoo for each tattooed content so as to identify the most appropriate positions in this content to superimpose the tattoo signal. The sound disturbances induced by such a superposition are then minimized.

Advantageously, the method according to the invention may further comprise an insertion, at the beginning of the tattoo signal, of a synchronization preamble for the detection of the tattoo signal at a device receiving the tattooed content.

This preamble detection facilitates the detection of the tattoo code by a device receiving real-time or delayed tattooed content. Preferably, the tattoo code is a binary code, each bit of this tattoo code modulating an instance of the key signal in the tattoo signal.

In a particular version of the above according to the invention, at least two superposition positions in the audio component are associated with at least two tattoo codes, each of these tattoo codes representing information for a remote device receiving tattooed content. Thus, the analog or digital content can be tattooed at several locations in the audio component. At each location, the tattoo signal can be obtained by repeating a key signal according to a particular tattoo code.

In a particular application example, the content can be tattooed at four different locations, with a different tattoo code for each location, which represents four tattoo codes.

Each tattoo code may correspond to a different information, this information being able to correspond, for example, to a command to be executed at the remote device.

The method according to the invention can thus be used for remote control of equipment receiving tattooed content. The method of the invention may further be used for tattooing an analog or digital signal from a Compact Disc (CD), a Digital Video Disc (DVD), an audio signal or audiovisual broadcast on a telecommunications network in real time or deferred or projection in theaters.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a tattooing system for a digital or analog multimedia content comprising at least one audio component, particularly for the implementation of the method according to the invention, characterized in that 'He understands :

at least one means for acquiring the audio component,

at least one means for constituting a tattoo signal from a repetition of a predetermined key signal according to at least one tattooing code,

at least one means for encrypting the tattoo signal, and

at least one means for superimposing the tattoo signal on the audio component in at least one position in the audio component. Other advantages and characteristics will appear on examining the detailed description of a non-limiting embodiment, and the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the steps of a tattooing method according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a tattooing system according to the invention;

- Figures 3 and 4 are schematic representations of the constitution of one or more different tattoo signals implemented in a method according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of the superposition format of a tattoo signal with an audio component of a tattooing content; and

- Figure 6 is a schematic representation of an installation implementing the invention for the control of a remote device.

In the remainder of the description and in the figures, the elements common to several figures retain the same reference. FIG. 1 is a representation, in the form of a diagram, of the steps of a method of tattooing analog or digital content 102 according to the invention.

The method shown in FIG. 1 comprises a step 104 for acquiring the analog or digital content to be tattooed.

When the detection of the analog or digital format of the content to be tattooed is performed automatically, the acquisition step 104 is then followed by a step 106 of automatically determining the format of the content to be tattooed 102 by analyzing the content to tattoo. This step 106 is not performed when the format of the content to be tattooed 102 is specified by the user or the operator.

When the content to be tattooed 102 is in digital format, the method according to the invention comprises a step 108 of converting the content to be tattooed 102 from the digital format to the analog format. Then one step 110 of separating at least one audio component of the content to tattoo 102 is performed.

When the tattooed content 102 is in the analog format, the format detection step 106 is followed by the step 110 of separating at least one audio component from the tattooed content 102.

This step 110 for separating an audio component provides at least one audio component 112 of the tattooed content 102.

The audio component is then analyzed in a step 114 to determine a suitable location in this audio component for superimposing the tattoo signal on the audio component 112.

Once an overlay location is determined, a step 116 determines the power of the tattoo signal for that overlay location so as to minimize noise nuisance that can be introduced by overlaying the tattoo signal with the audio component. at this overlay location.

A step 118 carries out the constitution of a tattoo signal 120 from a key signal 122 and a tattoo post 124. The constitution of the tattoo signal from a key signal and a a tattoo code will be described below with reference to FIG.

The tattoo signal 120 obtained is then encrypted in step 126 by means of an encryption code 128.

In step 130, the method according to the invention realizes the superposition of the encrypted tattoo signal with the audio component 112 at the superposition location identified in step 114 with a power level for the identified encrypted tattoo signal. at step 116.

When it is desired to perform multiple tattoos for analog or digital content, steps 114 to 130 are repeated as many times as desired. At each iteration of steps 114 to 130, the tattoo code may be either retained for the purpose of always having the same tattoo signal, or changed. In the latter case, the tattoo sig nal will be different for each tattoo location.

When the tattoos are completed, in step 132, the tattooed audio component is inserted into the tattooed content instead of the original audio component and the tattooed content 134 is so constituted. This step may include an analog to digital conversion when the tattooing content 102 is digital content.

The tattooed content 102 may be any content from a medium such as a CD, a DVD, a broadcast television program in real time or delayed, or multimedia content to be broadcast or broadcast in a room. cinema to fight against the piracy of the contents projected in cinemas. Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a system 200 according to the invention.

The system 200 comprises an acquisition module 202 comprising several inputs making it possible to simultaneously acquire several tattooing contents 102.

The system 200 optionally includes a module 204 for analyzing the contents to be tattooed and for determining the formats of the contents to be tattooed.

The module 204 is connected to a digital analog converter whose function is to convert the digital contents to tattoo into an analog format.

The system 200 further comprises a module 206 for separating an audio component from the content to be tattooed 102.

The audio component is provided to the input of a tattoo location determining module 208 and the intensity of the tattoo signal for each of these locations. The determination of the location of each tattoo and the intensity of the tattoo signal for each of these locations is made according to the intensity of the audio component.

A tattoo signal forming module 210 from a key signal and one or more tattoo codes is connected to an encryption module 212.

This encryption module 212, the module 206 for separating an audio component and the module 208 for determining the locations and the power of the tattoo signals are connected to a module of superposition 214 whose function is to superpose the tattoo signal or signals with the audio component.

The tattooed audio component is provided at the input of an analog or digital content reconstruction module 216 which is connected to an analog digital converter 218.

The digital-to-digital converter 218 and digital analog converter 206 are used only when the tattooed content 102 is in digital format and the tattooed content 134 is to be provided in digital format.

We now disclose in reference to Fig. 3 the constitution of a tattoo signal.

The tattoo signal 120 is formed from a key signal 120 and a tattoo code 122, which in the present example is a binary code "1 -1 -1 1 1 -1".

The tattoo signal 120 is composed of the key signal repeated as many times as there are bits in the tattoo code, each repetition being modulated by the corresponding bit.

In this example, the tattoo code includes 6 bits. The tattoo signal 120 is thus obtained by 6 repetitions of the key signal 122 modulated by the value of each bit of the tattoo code 124. In practice, the modulation is obtained by a multiplication of the key signal 122 by means of the bit co rrespon d ant. Ai nsi, for the first repetition, the value of the bit is "1", so the key signal will be repeated identically. Then, for the second repetition, the value of the second is "-1", the key signal will be reversed.

The tattoo signal 120 is obtained by putting end to end all the repetitions of the key signal 122 modulated by each of the bits of the tattoo code 124.

The method of FIG. 1 may be used to control a remote apparatus receiving the tattooed content 134, such as for example a VCR. In this case, different tattoo codes will be used to modulate the key signal to obtain a different tattoo signal for several tattoo sites in the audio component of the tattoo content.

This code will correspond to the information on the destination of the remote device or a command from the remote device.

So with reference to Figure 4, three different tattoo codes

124a-124c are used to modulate the key key 122 identified to obtain three different tattoo signals 120a-120c. Each modulation code may correspond to a command from the remote device, such as, for example, the "start recording", "pause recording" and "stop recording" functions respectively.

It is possible to associate a preamble 502 and a start bit 504 to facilitate the detection of each tattoo signal at the remote device, as shown in FIG. 5.

Thus, the device can be com nded through a tattooing sys tem that is placed on the com port of the tattooed content. An installation implementing such a command is shown in FIG.

The installation 600 comprises a system 200 as represented in FIG. 2, a device 602 for detecting and controlling the remote device 604. The device 602 can either be integrated with the remote apparatus 604 as represented in FIG. 6, or be in communication with the device 604 without being integrated.

The tattooed content 134 is sent to the remote device 604 through a telecommunications network 606. When the tattooed content 134 is intercepted by the device 602, the latter detects and extracts the tattoo signals as and when the Tapping the contents tattooed by the remote device 604. According to the key signal 122, the device 602 extracts each tattoo code as and when reading. Whenever a tattoo code is extracted, the device 602 checks the function with which this tattoo code is associated and controls the device 604 to trigger the function in question.

Thus, when the code 120a is detected, the device 602 commands the remote device 604 to start recording the contents. When later, the device 602 detects the code 120b, it commands the remote device 604 to suspend the registration, for example because the tattooed content includes an advertising page. Finally, when the code 120c is detected, the device 602 controls the remote device 604 to stop the recording of the content.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the application examples and embodiments described above.

Claims

A method of tattooing an analog or digital content (102) comprising at least one audio component (112), characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

- constitution of at least one tattoo signal (120; 120a-120c) from a repetition of a key signal (122) predetermined according to at least one tattooing code (124; 124a-124c),

encrypting said at least one tattoo signal (120; 120-120c) using at least one predetermined encryption code (128),

superimposing said at least one encrypted tattoo signal on said audio component (112) at at least one position in said audio component (112).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a step (110) for extracting at least one audio component (112) of the tattooing content (102).

3. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, when the tattooing content (102) is of digital format, said method further comprises the following steps:

a digital-analog conversion (108) of the tattooed content (102) upstream of the superposition step (130), and

an analog-to-digital conversion (132) of the tattooed content (134) downstream of the superposition step (130).

4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a power modulation of the tattoo signal (120) as a function of the power of the audio component (112), substantially at the level of the position in said audio component (112) at which the tattoo signal led (120) is superimposed with the audio component (112).

5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises, upstream of the step of superposition (130), a detection step (114), by analyzing the power of the audio component, of at least one position in said audio component (112) at which the tattoo signal (120) will be superimposed on said component audio (112).

6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises an insertion at the beginning of the tattoo signal of a synchronization preamble (502) for the detection of said tattoo signal (120) at the level of a device (604) receiving the tattooed content (134).

A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tattoo code (1204; 124a-124c) comprises a binary code, each bit of said tattoo code (1204; 124a-124c) modulating an instance of the signal key (122) in the tattoo signal (120; 120a-120c).

8. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two superposition positions in the audio component (112) are associated with at least two tattoo codes (124a-124c), each of said tattoo codes (124a-124c) representing information for a remote device (604) receiving the tattooed content (134).

9. Use of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 for the remote control of a device (604) receiving the tattooed content (134).

10. System (200) for tattooing a digital or analog multimedia content (102) comprising at least one audio component (112), in particular for implementing the method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that he understands:

at least one acquisition means (202) of said audio component, at least one means (210) for forming a tattoo signal from a repetition of a predetermined key signal according to at least one tattooing code,

at least one means (212) for encrypting said tattoo signal, and at least one means (214) for superimposing said tattoo signal on said audio component in at least one position in said audio component.